Short Summary

AN APPEAL COURT AT FRANKFURT, IN WEST GERMANY, TODAY (FRIDAY) CUT AN EIGHT MONTH SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE ON THE MILITANT STUDENT LEADER, DANIEL COHN-BENDIT, TO SIX MONTHS.

Description

AN APPEAL COURT AT FRANKFURT, IN WEST GERMANY, TODAY (FRIDAY) CUT AN EIGHT MONTH SUSPENDED PRISON SENTENCE ON THE MILITANT STUDENT LEADER, DANIEL COHN-BENDIT, TO SIX MONTHS. HE WILL HAVE TO KEEP OUT OF TROUBLE FOR THREE YEARS TO AVOID GOING TO PRISON.

THE APPEAL COURT REDUCED THE SENTENCE PASSED BY A MAGISTRATE LAST SEPTEMBER FOR DANIEL "DANNY-THE-RED" COHN-BENDIT'S PART IN DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST PRESIDENT LEOPOLD SENGHOR OF SENEGAL WHEN HE WAS AWARDED THE FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR'S PEACE PRIZE. THE 23-YEAR-OLD STUDENT HAS BEEN STUDYING IN FRANKFURT SINCE HE WAS REFUSED PERMISSION TO RE-ENTER FRANCE AFTER PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN LAST YEAR'S FRENCH STUDENT REVOLT.

POLICE AND COURT OFFICIALS DID NOT INTERVENE WHEN COHN-BENDIT'S FELLOW STUDENTS, PACKED INTO THE PUBLIC GALLERY, JOINED IN THE ANTHEM OF THE COMMUNIST MOVEMENT. COHN-BENDIT HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF INSULTING OFFICIALS, RIOTING AND GRAVE DISTURBANCES OF THE PUBLIC PEACE. THE APPEAL COURT DECISION CLEARED HIM OF HIS CONVICTION FOR INSULTING OFFICIALS AND DISTURBING THE PEACE.